Sewerage system design

Calculation waste water flow rate

based on population.
Calculate BOD5 to indicates strength
and weakness of wastewater.
Design criteria of sewer system
based on UK standard.
Waste water treatment process

Types of sewer
Foul Sewerage(Sanitary)
The main flow in a foul sewerage system is
generally the polluted water-borne waste from
domestic buildings,
Consider the connection from the house to the
sewer, which is known as a house connection or
drain.
Drains
To determine wastewater flows in building drainage.
Following the guidance in BS EN 752 Drain and
sewer systems outside buildings, and BS EN 120562 Gravity drainage systems inside buildings - Part 2:
Sanitary pipework, layout and calculation.

For intermittent use a factor of 0.5 may be applied, so in

a total of N dwellings, the flow is then given by

Q [litres/second] = 0.5 (3N)

subject to a minimum design flow of 1.6 litres/second,

and with the depth of flow d 0.7 D to allow ventilation.
Self cleansing conditions are usually ensured by simple
gradient rules, such as a 100 mm pipe at a slope of 1 in
40.

REFERENCES
Building Regulations Approved Document H
(reprinted 2010, free to download from
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk), which follows
a similar approach to that described above.
Manufacturers organisations also publish useful
information, such as the Clay Pipe Development
Association (CPDA) booklet entitled The
specification, design and construction of drainage
and sewerage systems using vitrified clay pipes.

Foul Sewers

For sewerage systems, wastewater flows are

usually determined on a population basis, as
described for the UK in the following sections.

Traditionally in UK, the average foul flow in a sewer

is known as the dry weather flow , DWF, and may be
expressed

DWF = P.G + I + E

P = population
G = wastewater flow per
person
I = infiltration
E = industrial
effluent/sewage

*The average daily domestic flow per person (G) in UK

is given as ranging from 150 to 300 litres/day (BS EN
752:2008 p.97, Table E.4).

Criteria for Population Equivalent (PE) Calculation (MS-1228)

Foul sewer design flows by the population

method

Foul sewers in UK are designed for up to 6 times of

DWF (BS EN 752:2008, p.98, Table E.5). This is dependent
on catchment size, and additional allowance is made for
infiltration.

For new housing areas in UK, the following is usually assumed:

3 people per dwelling

200 litres per person per day ( G )
10 % infiltration ( i.e. I = 10 % of P.G, so multiply P.G by
110/100 )
6 times peaking factor

So the peak flow per dwelling := 6xDWF =6( P.G + I + E)

= 6 [3 x 200 x 110/100] 4000 litres/day = 0.046 l/s
This is referred to as the design flow.

Self cleansing velocities for foul sewers

BS EN 752 (2008) recommends a velocity of at least

0.7 m/s for pipes up to 300 mm diameter (p.61,
9.6.3.1), but higher velocities may be needed in larger
pipes (p.150, NA.11.2.3.1). A flow of two times the average
domestic flow is used for this calculation.
Sewers for Adoption (SfA) requires a velocity of 0.75
m/s at one-third of the design flow. (One third of 6DWF
equals 2 DWF, which is the flow at which velocity should be
checked).
Where this velocity requirement cannot be met, then the
self cleansing criterion would be considered to be satisfied
if one of the following gradient rules applies:
a 150 mm nominal internal diameter gravity sewer
having a gradient not flatter than 1 in 150 where
there are at least ten dwelling units connected.
a sewer or lateral drain with a nominal internal
diameter of 100mm, or a lateral drain serving ten or less
properties, laid to a gradient not flatter than 1:80 where

Pipe roughness

The typical roughness value used for foul gravity sewer

design is ks = 1.5 mm, for any pipe material.
In time, pipes slime up and give a similar roughness,
regardless of their material.

From experimental work on clay and pvc pipes reproduced in

CPDA (2001)

Other practical design criteria for foul

sewerage

The minimum pipe diameter for foul sewers in the UK

was traditionally 150 mm, but now 100 mm is allowed
for ten properties or less. 100 mm is the traditional
size for individual house connections.
Manholes are required at changes in size, slope or
direction;
The maximum spacing is 100m, although this may be
increased for man entry sizes (greater than 900 mm
diameter), but is often less than this to accommodate
branches and bends.
At manholes where pipe sizes change it is usual to
align the levels of the pipe soffits(highest point of
internal surface).
Slopes to be considered in design are:
the natural ground slope,
the required self cleansing gradient,

 A useful approximate rule is that a D (mm) diameter

sewer laid at a slope of 1 in D will give a velocity
approximately equal to the self cleansing value. This
gradient rule is mentioned in BS EN 752:2008 p.61,
9.6.3.1.
e.g. 225 mm sewer with roughness k = 1.5 mm laid at 1
in 225 gives a pipe full flow of 30 litres/s and pipe full
velocity of 0.75 m/s.
A pumping station may be needed to lift foul flows
from a new development into the existing sewer
system, but is best avoided if possible.

Waste water treatment

Waste water treatment

Processes that combine physical, chemical
and biological methods.
Wastewater treatment plants are usually
classified as providing primary, secondary
or tertiary (or advanced) treatment,
depending on the purification level to
which they treat.

*BOD5 = amountoforganic pollution(that can be oxidized

biologically) in asampleof water.

CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTIC
Alkalinity: an indicator of wastewaters capacity to
neutralize acids, alkalinity is measured in terms of
bicarbonate, carbonate and hydroxide alkalinity.
Alkalinity is essential to hold the neutral pH of the
wastewater during biological treatment.
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD): an indicator
of the amount of biodegradable matter in the
wastewater, normally BOD is
measured in a 5-day test conducted at 20C (BOD5)
and normally ranges from 100 to 300mg/L
Chemical oxygen demand (COD): an indication
of the amount of oxidizable matter present in the
sample, the COD is normally in the range of 200 to
500 mg/L. Industrial wastes present in the

Dissolved gasses: the specific gases and normal

concentration dissolved in wastewater are based on
wastewater composition, and under septic conditions
may typically include oxygen in relatively low
concentration, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.
Nitrogen compounds: nitrogens type and amount
vary from raw wastewater to treated effluent, but
nitrogen oxygen is mostly found in untreated
wastewater in the forms of organic nitrogen and
ammonia nitrogen (presence and levels determined
by laboratory testing).
Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN): the sum of these
forms of nitrogen. Normal wastewater contains 8 to 35
mg/L and ammonia nitrogen ranging from 12 to 50
mg/L.
pH: pH express wastewaters acid condition. For

Phosphorus:
in secondary treatment process, phosphorus must be
present in at least minimum quantities or the process
wont process.
However, excessive phosphorus causes stream
damage and excessive algal growth.
Phosphorus normally range 6 to 20 mg/L.
Solids:
most wastewater pollutants can be classified as
solids, and wastewater treatment is generally
designed to either remove solids, or convert them to
more stable or removable forms.
General practice classifies solids as setteleable,
floatable, or collodial.
Total solids concentration in wastewater normally
ranges from 350 to 1,200 mg/L.

Diagram of sewage treatment process cycle

Remove 90-95% settleable
solids 40-60% total suspended
solids, and 25 to 35% BOD
Removes gravel, sand, silt and
other gritty materials
Reduces odors, neutralizes
acids, reduces corrosion,reduces
BOD5, improves solids and
grease removal, reduces loading
on the plant and aids
subsequent processes.

Produces effluent/sewage
with not more than 20 mg/L
BOD5 and 30 mg/L
suspended solids
Removes pollutants, including
nitrogen, phosphorus, soluble
COD and heavy metals to meet
discharges or reuse criteria
with respect to specific
parameters

Example of calculating average daily wastewater flow

rate
Question: Table shows the information of daily wastewater
flow rate and BOD5 concentration for an urban area.
Determine the average daily wastewater flow rate and BOD 5
concentration.
Utility

Population
Equivalen
t (PE)

Domestic

30 000

Hospital

650 bed

Restaurant

250 customers per

day

School with
1500 students each
cafe
School
5400 student each
without cafe

Unit
per
capital
per
capital
per
capital
per
student
per
student

Average
Flowrate
(l/day)

BOD5
(kg/day)

625

0.1

600

0.15

30

0.03

280

0.1

60

0.03

Solution
i. Calculate the average wastewater flow rate
Utility
Domestic
Hospital
Restaurant
School with
cafe
School without
cafe
Total
wastewater
flow

PE x average daily
flowrate
30 000 x 625
650 x 600
250 x 30

18,750,000
390,000
7500

1500 x 280

420,000

5400 x 60

324,000
19,891,500
(litre/day)

ii. Calculate the average BOD5

concentration

Population
Utility
Equivalent
(PE)
Domestic
30 000
Hospital
650 bed
250
Restaurant
customers
per day
School with
1500
cafe
students each
School
5400 student
without cafe
each

BOD5
(kg/day)

PE x BOD5

0.1
0.15

30000x0.1
650x0.15

3000
97.5

0.03

250x0.03

7.5

0.1

1500x0.1

150

0.03

5400x0.03

162

Total BOD5
Average BOD5 concentration
=Total BOD5 /Total wastewater flow rate

Convert
unit to mg/L

3417
kg/day
Kg/day
3417 Liter/day
19,891,500
=0.000172